Policy Essentials: Practical Policy Development and Analysis

Build practical policy skills for real-world government

Strong policy capability is at the heart of effective government.

Whether you are developing policy advice, contributing to reform initiatives, supporting program design or preparing briefings for decision-makers, you need practical skills that go beyond understanding the policy cycle.

This one-day course provides a practical introduction to policy development methods in contemporary government environments. You will learn how policy is developed, negotiated, implemented and adapted in practice, building skills that can be applied immediately in your workplace.

Drawing on real Australian policy examples and contemporary public sector practice, this course explores how to define policy problems, use evidence effectively, engage stakeholders, assess policy options and communicate policy advice with confidence.

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Course content

Understanding how policy actually works 

• Beyond the traditional policy cycle
• The realities of policymaking in government
• Policy development in complex environments 
• Understanding political, organisational and stakeholder influences 
   

Problem definition and policy framing 

• Defining policy problems clearly
• Diagnosing causes and consequences
• Framing policy issues for decision-makers
• Avoiding common policy framing mistakes

Evidence-based policymaking

• Understanding different forms of evidence
• Working with incomplete information
• Balancing evidence, judgement and practical constraints
• Evidence-informed decision-making in government 

Policy analysis and option development

• Developing practical policy options
• Assessing feasibility, effectiveness and risk
• Understanding policy trade-offs 
• Supporting robust decision-making 
   

Stakeholder engagement and consultation

• Stakeholder mapping techniques
• Identifying interests and influence
• Managing competing perspectives
• Building support for policy initiatives

Policy implementation and delivery

• Why good policy can fail
• Designing for implementation
• Understanding delivery systems
• Implementation risks and mitigation strategies 
   

Writing effective policy advice

• Developing policy briefs and recommendations
• Communicating clearly and concisely
• Supporting executive and ministerial decision-making
• Influencing through evidence and analysis 

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Define and frame policy problems more effectively
• Apply practical policy analysis techniques
• Use evidence to support policy development and decision-making
• Assess policy options and identify trade-offs
• Understand stakeholder interests, influence and competing priorities
• Recognise implementation challenges early in the policy process
• Identify common causes of policy failure
• Communicate clear and actionable policy advice
• Contribute more effectively to policy development and reform initiatives 

Delivery style

This course is highly interactive and workshop-based.

You will participate in practical exercises, group discussions, policy simulations and case studies drawn from Australian government contexts.

The emphasis is on applied learning rather than theory alone. 

Who should attend?

This course is particularly valuable for professionals and practitioners seeking to build foundational policy capability. 

About this presenter

Professor Carol Mills is the Director of the UTS Institute for Public Policy and Governance (IPPG), Centre for Local Government (CLG) and Co-Director of the Centre for Sports, Business and Society (CSBS). Carol has held the CEO positions of Director General, Communities NSW and the Department of Arts, Sport and Recreation in the New South Wales public sector and was Secretary, Commonwealth Department of Parliamentary Services in Canberra. She has also been Deputy Director General in the NSW Departments of Housing and Ageing, Disability and Home Care, and was the inaugural head of the NSW Office of Community Housing.

Professor Mills has achieved outstanding results in driving major policy, program and organisational reforms in a series of challenging and high-profile roles. She applies a strong focus on improving customer service, risk management, governance and financial performance to achieve lasting business improvement. Her expertise is built on effectively combining strategic and practical approaches to management and change. She has extensive board and committee experience as both a member and chair, including a number of major cultural boards, the NSW Institute of Sport, Western Sydney Parklands Trust, Gymnastics NSW, the City Recital Hall, and the Sydney Western Harbour Business Improvement District. Carol has tertiary qualifications in Economics, Management, Public Policy and Philosophy, and is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and the Australian Evaluation Society.